Justice News

Rochester Man Pleads Guilty To Bank Robbery

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX: (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Ricky Knox, 28, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to bank robbery. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Moynihan, who is handling the case, stated that on April 10, 2015, Knox robbed the Chase Bank Branch located at 1 Rochester Street in Scottsville, NY. The defendant, who was wearing dark pants, a baseball hat, and a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, approached the teller window and stated that he wanted to make a withdrawal. The teller asked Knox to use his debit card to initiate the transaction. Knox responded no and placed his right hand up on the counter. At that time the teller noted that Knox was wearing clear latex gloves. The defendant then demanded the teller “put 50’s and 100’s up on the counter” and to hurry. The teller placed money on the counter which Knox used his gloved hand to pick up and then fled from the bank on foot.

On April 15, 2015, Knox was arrested in Louisiana and brought to the Western District of New York to face the robbery charges.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2016, at 4:00 PM before the Honorable Elizabeth A. Wolford.